measuring tools

by Karianne Halse, Aarhus School of Architecture

Folding ruler (ancient, Danish) Materials: wood, brass

Manufacturer: Thomas Aston & Sons Makers, Birmingham Year of production: Before 1897 (after 1897 taken over by I & D Smallwood) Acquired in Copenhagen, 2020.

The ancient Danish folding ruler embodies a bygone measuring system. The now abandoned system of measurement ‘tomme’ was replaced by the current metric system in 1907. The measuring unit of ‘tomme’ embeds a bodily relationship, where the human body acts as point of reference. One unit equals a thumb, with variation between countries: In Scandinavia, there were at least three different tomme-measurements (a Danish ‘tomme’-unit was 2,62 cm, the Swedish was 2,47 cm, and the Norwegian was defined as 3,14 cm).

This folding ruler is acquired in Copenhagen for a particular use. It has been used in dialogue with a traditional panel door, measuring a sectional cut. First measuring with an ordinary metric folding ruler, the measurements of the door did not give any sense, giving strange numbers. However, when introducing the old folding ruler, it became clear how it spoke the language of the door. The logic of the door’s dimensions became revealed.

The ruler itself possess bodily attributes. Operating the tool involves a performance of movement, and a choreography of rotation and folding out. Almost like a dancer. The hinges and rotation-mechanisms resembles joints between bones. Stretching out limbs, defining spaces between - before returning into an entwined position.